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Virginia Criminal Law Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Domestic Violence and DUI / DWI for Virginia on
Q: How to resolve jail release delay after false abuse accusation and charges?

My boyfriend was falsely accused of abuse. A colleague called the police and gave a false statement, but I denied the allegations. However, he was still taken into custody. He was charged with simple assault (secured bond) and a DUI (unsecured bond). Despite seeing a judge and being told of his... View More

Daniel P Leavitt
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answered on Feb 15, 2025

If he has a bond then they have to let you bond him out. It stinks that it's on the weekend and it's a holiday weekend. So the courts are closed.

I've had the jail blame the court before and say they don't have the proper paperwork from the court. If that's truly...
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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: What should I do if HR alleges I stole food based on video evidence in Virginia?

I received a call from HR stating that they have videos of me allegedly stealing food from the cafeteria. They mentioned the incident happened 8 times over the last couple of months. I haven't been formally accused yet but was asked if I recall it happening. I haven't reviewed the videos,... View More

Amy McMullen Harber
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answered on Feb 14, 2025

Consuming food, supplies, or other resources belonging to your employer without authorization could be considered embezzlement in Virginia. It is best to consult with a criminal defense and/or employment attorney about the options available to you based on the terms of your employment & how the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: Is the sentence credit calculated correctly for my 30-month DOC sentence?

I am a non-violent offender and was sentenced to 2.5 years (30 months) in DOC. I had already served 15 months before sentencing. Upon sentencing, I received credit for those 15 months, leaving 15 months remaining. The DOC applied the 65% good time credit to the remaining 15 months rather than the... View More

David G. Parker
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answered on Feb 13, 2025

The Department of Corrections should be contacted if you have concerns. They advertise that defendants may reach out to them with questions about time computation at:

Virginia Department of Corrections

ATTN: Correspondence Unit/Court & Legal Section

PO Box 26963...
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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Domestic Violence for Virginia on
Q: Arrested with spouse after undetermined aggressor, signed EPO, seeking case dismissal in Virginia.

I was arrested along with my spouse because the police couldn't determine an aggressor during an incident. We both signed an Emergency Protective Order (EPO). We have a court date after the EPO expires, and my spouse and I plan to settle our differences before then. There are no anticipated... View More

Daniel P Leavitt
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answered on Feb 13, 2025

Generally domestic assault and battery cases are determined by what evidence there is and how the prosecutor decides to proceed. Any statements you and/or your husband made are admissible against yourselves. I had had cases where the other spouse doesn't want to proceed but the prosecutor... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: First offense petit larceny

I got a first offense petit larceny from Walmart for amount of 221.89 looking for help on my situation as I have summons to appear in court February 20th , I am terrified and wondering if I’m going to jail or am I able to do something to not good to jail

David G. Parker
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answered on Feb 12, 2025

If you do not have any felony convictions, the judge is permitted in his or her discretion to defer your case for dismissal if certain conditions (e.g. payment of restitution, keeping the peace, etc.) are met. It's purely at the judge's discretion and so it will depend on the custom of... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Family Law, Animal / Dog Law and Personal Injury for Virginia on
Q: How to dismiss cases that are discriminatory against me with blatant proof of false accusations & malicious prosecution
Amy McMullen Harber
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answered on Feb 10, 2025

If the cases are criminal in nature, you should hire counsel to represent you on those charges & prevent that information to him or her. That person will best advise you as how you can use that information to your advantage. You can request a public defender through the court you’re charged... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: I need to knw if a police officer can charge me with something but leave my other stuff behind

I got charged with a meth pipe that was it he took me to jail over a possession witch I didn’t have no drugs he didn’t test it or anything but I had pills that wasn’t mine and insulin needles with stuff loaded in it and they had my boyfriend in handcuffs while I was at a friend and I walked... View More

Daniel P Leavitt
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answered on Feb 9, 2025

You can be charged for any offense that is a violation of law where the officer has probable cause to believe you committed. The officer has to have jurisdiction where the alleged offense occurred.

If somebody else committed a different violation for which they didn't get charged, it...
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2 Answers | Asked in Traffic Tickets, Criminal Law and Civil Litigation for Virginia on
Q: Will I get a ticket (or worse?) for stopping too close to a school bus because I didn't realize it was stopping twice?

Augusta County, VA- I stopped for the bus unloading kids going the opposite direction as me on a county 2-lane road (double yellow lines). It started moving as did the cars behind it (I was going opposite direction), so we got closer in distance then realized it was stopping AGAIN only a couple... View More

David G. Parker
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answered on Feb 6, 2025

Under the circumstances, your response to the bus going back into motion was perfectly reasonable. Regardless, you stopped for the school bus as required as soon as you realized it had stopped for a second time. I see no violation.

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: can you expunge a class 6 felony in va if you had a plea deal for 2 years probation. Completed then case dismissed?
David G. Parker
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answered on Jan 21, 2025

To be eligible for an expungement, the charge must result in an acquittal, or a nolle prosequi, or be considered "otherwise dismissed" by the court. If you had a plea deal where the judge found that the evidence was sufficient for a conviction, but a guilty finding was withheld and your... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: can you expunge a class 6 felony in va if you had a plea deal for 2 years probation. Completed then case dismissed?
Amy McMullen Harber
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answered on Feb 6, 2025

David's answer from January 21, 2025 is correct about the current state of Virginia expungement law. However, the law is changing on July 1 of this year, & certain Class 6 felonies will be eligible for sealing (a different process than expungement). Whether your particular crime is... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: My boyfriend is a violent felon his felony is 6 years old is he still eligible for the 2 year minimum?

He got a gun charge the found the gun in the glove box of a car he was driving. Is it likely he will get bond at circuit court?

David G. Parker
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answered on Jan 17, 2025

Violent felons in possession of a firearm can be subject to a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. A felony possessing or transporting a firearm with a felony conviction within the past ten years is subject to a 2-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. So either penalty could be a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: If a sheriff deputy want to interview you because there is an accusation against you, do you need a lawyer present?
Faraji A. Rosenthall
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Faraji A. Rosenthall
answered on Jan 10, 2025

Yes, it better yet don't talk to them at all. Anything they say can and will be used against you. They can lie or trick you to get you to confess. You may not even know what the accusation is. They aren't asking because they want to hear your side, they are asking because they want to get... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Traffic Tickets and Juvenile Law for Virginia on
Q: I’m on good behavior in a different county will a Fta misdemeanor cause me to violate

The good behavior is for two felonies POs. Of scheduled 1 or 2 on my juvenile record I caught the charges at 16 charges with them fully at 19 I was give 2 year 2 years suspended one year good behavior my new pending charge is a shoplifting misdemeanor for 10 dollar sunglasses and I accidentally... View More

David G. Parker
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answered on Jan 5, 2025

Good behavior violations are not governed by sentencing revocation report guidelines. If you were still under a term of good behavior when you committed a new violation of law, it's possible that you will face a good behavior violation on your old case. But not all good behavior violations are... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: Speedy trail and rights to get a fast court date and not be held

And is it possible to get a court appointment lawyer before you go to court

David G. Parker
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answered on Jan 5, 2025

There is constitutional speedy trial (which depends on the circumstances of your case) and statutory speedy trial. Statutory speedy trial kicks in once a felony charge has been certified by the grand jury. The government has five months (if the defendant is held in custody) or nine months (if the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: I have a Fta from Nov 7 warrant wasn’t issued till the 20th will I get bond

Original charge is shoplift misdemeanor there were sunglasses I never took them but the store pressed charges so I got a summons I missed my court date due to an concussion I surfed due to a car wreck the day I got my summons never been in trouble in this county I have paperwork to back up... View More

David G. Parker
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answered on Jan 4, 2025

If you don't have a lawyer appointed to represent you, you should consider hiring a lawyer. If you had a medical issue that affected your ability to keep track of the court date then you will want documentation to substantiate that. You will also be better served by turning yourself in... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: I have a Fta from Nov 7 warrant wasn’t issued till the 20th will I get bond

Original charge is shoplift misdemeanor there were sunglasses I never took them but the store pressed charges so I got a summons I missed my court date due to an concussion I surfed due to a car wreck the day I got my summons never been in trouble in this county I have paperwork to back up... View More

Daniel P Leavitt
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answered on Jan 3, 2025

You should retain an attorney so they can represent you on these. Courts often do issue no bond warrants when people fail to appear in court. So you will want someone to represent you and to be able to schedule a bond hearing. If not you would need to request a court appointed attorney after you... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: I accidentally missed my court date due to a concussion from a car wreck will I get bond original charge misdemeanor

Shoplift sunglasses like 15 bucks I didn't take them but clean record expect traffics and juvenile record in a different county never missed court before

Daniel P Leavitt
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answered on Jan 3, 2025

If you can try to line up a lawyer and a bonds person. Usually they give a bond on misdemeanors but when you miss court sometimes they issue a no bond capias so you may have to have a bond hearing and that can take 2-5 days, or longer if you don't have a lawyer. But it all starts with turning... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: Can I sue my molester, if too late to press charges?
David G. Parker
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answered on Dec 6, 2024

There is no statute of limitations for felony offenses. That being said, it may be difficult to convince an investigator or the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to charge someone depending on the length of time that has elapsed since the incident(s) you reference. That will depend on the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: Are FRTs legal in the state of Virginia?

I'm wondering if they violate the 2020 law that was passed regarding trigger activators. The device doesn't explicitly use the recoil energy of the firearm to function the same way a bump stock does, but does use the rearward bolt movement of it to function. I asked the state police but... View More

David G. Parker
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answered on Nov 12, 2024

Litigation at the federal level regarding forced reset triggers seems to be ongoing. The latest ruling I could find is from Texas, where a federal district court ruled against the ATF this summer regarding seizure of these devices. In Virginia, the closest controlling statute I could find is §... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for Virginia on
Q: My boyfriend sent me threats over the phone. So when I seen him By my neighborhood.I hit him with my car.

Do we both get in trouble? Do I get in trouble? Or Do he just get in trouble because of the threats.

David G. Parker
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answered on Nov 11, 2024

You can act in self-defense in certain situations. Whether you committed a crime will depend on a number of factors, including the nature of the threats against you and his behavior in the moments before he was struck by your vehicle. It's not clear from your post whether anyone has been... View More

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